"I'm sticking it to the credit card companies!," an acquaintance mentioned to me in regards to the 1% Cash Back points they were getting for every purchase with their MasterCard. I almost found myself agreeing with her until I snapped back to reality. Cash Back and Sky Miles aren't necessarily paid for by the banks or the networks, but rather the retailers themselves. These cards "stick it" to the stores and businesses we love.

Visa and MasterCard Interchange charge a higher amount for these c...
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A lot of merchants have asked us over the past few weeks if electronic payment interchange fees are lower now since the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed in July, 2010. The short answer to that is 'No'. The Act states that the new government regulatory authority that oversees the payment industry must determine fair and reasonable rates on electronic debit transactions within 9 months of the Act passing.

The Act specifies debit cards several times. We've concluded that any...
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According to a J.D. Power and Associates survey published on August 19, 2010, American Express ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among card issuing banks. For business owners, this comes as no surprise. American Express is notoriously pro consumer. Business owners generally pay higher rates to accept Amex and are quick to lose any card dispute with a customer. We want to know what YOU think. E-mail us today.

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It's far from tax time but your bottom line should always be on your mind. A snapshot of last year's business P&L might have looked liked this:

Rent Expense:                                                        $80,000
Wages:                                                                    $300,000   
Credit Card Processing Fees Expense:                  $7,000
Utility Expense:                                                       $6,000

The economy shrank years ago and has since been at a st...
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